Leon waited.
Even as Ayla smiled faintly at Elise, even as Kalen clung to her hand and Viper stood at her side like a pillar finally finding peace — Leon waited.
Waited for her eyes to find his again. For her to say his name. For something small — a whisper, a breath, anything — that would tell him she remembered him too.
But instead…
"Where's Damien?" she asked suddenly, looking around the room.
It wasn't just the name — it was the way she said it. Bright. Eager. A spark of life in a voice that had just returned.
Leon froze.
His chest grew tight as her eyes searched the faces, skipping past him entirely. "He was with me," she said, glancing at Elise and Jean. "He let me fly out here. He's the one who—he knew…"
"You remember him?" Elise asked softly.
Ayla smiled faintly. "I do now. I remember everything. Who I was before. Who I became. I know I'm not Celeste. I'm… Ayla." She laughed lightly, like the name still felt strange on her tongue. "I know now."
Jean's eyes shimmered with quiet understanding. Elise took her hand gently, squeezing. "We knew," she whispered. "Even before it was confirmed… we knew."
But Ayla paused.
Her gaze shifted again. A frown touched her lips. "Wait… how was it confirmed?"
Leon took a slow breath, then stepped forward. "I had a DNA test done."
The smile fell from her face.
Her brow furrowed. "You what?"
"You were unconscious. I had to be sure—"
"You didn't wait for me to wake up?" Her voice cracked, not from weakness — from anger. "You tested my blood without asking?"
Leon's eyes darkened. "You were in a coma, Ayla. I needed to know. We all did—"
"You needed to know?" she snapped. "You couldn't wait even a day? You couldn't let me remember on my own?"
Kalen stepped back, caught in the tension. Elise looked away. Viper didn't move — but the storm was in his eyes now, too.
Leon opened his mouth to respond—
—but the door creaked open behind them.
And Damien walked in.
The moment her eyes landed on him, Ayla's fury melted.
"Damien."
He didn't say anything at first. He just stood there — in the doorway, eyes locked on her, the storm behind him still clinging to his coat.
"I'm here," he said finally.
Ayla reached for him, or tried to.
And Leon watched — watched the way her voice softened, how her entire body relaxed just at the sight of him.
And all Leon could hear was Damien's voice from hours ago:
"You better be ready to lose her."
Leon laughed quietly under his breath.
Not bitter. Not loud.
Just… cold.
Because if that girl lying in the hospital bed was truly his Ayla —
then Damien had already lost her.
He just didn't know it yet.